Police News

Ben Fishwick

A suspected burglar escaped over a roof to elude police today after a large-scale operation in a Portsmouth street

Officers were called to Montague Road in North End to reports of a burglary but searched gardens in Kirby Road before spotting the man on a roof.

He was disturbed going through the back gardens after the alleged burglary of a home backing on to the house in Kirby Road.

Paul Smart, 46, of Kirby Road, said: ‘I had four police officers come down through my house into the garden.

‘The police helicopter was up looking for the guy.’

Police from the dedicated burglary unit Op Hawk are investigating the incident at 10.26am.

After initial suggestions that a man had been detained, Hampshire Police said: ‘Officers investigating a report of a burglary at a home in Montague Road in North End have been using specialist resources including the police helicopter to search for a suspect who was seen running from the scene.

‘Enquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made at the current time.’